Malaysia parts ways with national team and U23 coaches in rebuild after naturalization scandal

In an official announcement, FAM confirmed the departures of multiple management and technical staff members across both the national and U23 teams.

"FAM respects the decisions made and extends its highest appreciation and gratitude for their services, commitment and contributions throughout their tenure with the national teams," FAM said. "To ensure the continuity and direction of the national team programme, FAM is taking the necessary steps regarding the filling of these positions."

The end of a short-lived project

The sweeping changes began on June 1, 2026, with the exit of national team CEO Rob Friend, followed by the departure of U23 head coach Nafuzi Zain and goalkeeping coach Yazid Yassin on June 15, New Straits Times reported.

On June 16, the contracts of national team head coach Peter Cklamovski, assistant coach Matthew Smith and technical staff member Seiya Imazaki were terminated.

These rapid departures mark the end of a project initiated by FAM in late 2024 as part of a comprehensive national team restructuring program. The federation's long-term vision involved bringing in reputable figures, overseen by former Canadian international Rob Friend.

Cklamovski, an Australian tactician who previously served as an assistant to Ange Postecoglou during Australia's 2015 Asian Cup victory and managed FC Tokyo in the J1 League, was appointed in early 2025. He was expected to continue the progress made under his predecessor, Kim Pan-gon. Nafuzi Zain was also appointed to lead the U23 squad.

The naturalization scandal

Malaysia were performing well in the final qualifier of the 2027 Asian Cup. They started impressively with a 2-0 victory against Nepal and a 4-0 win against Vietnam. However, a massive naturalization scandal involving the use of seven ineligible foreign-born players was then exposed, shocking Southeast Asian football.

FIFA ultimately banned the seven players from participating in football activities for 12 months. Despite FAM appealing twice to the FIFA Appeals Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), both of which were rejected.

Consequently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) handed Malaysia 0-3 forfeit defeats in matches against Nepal and Vietnam. This punishment removed Malaysia from the top of the group, ultimately giving their ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup to Vietnam.

As a result of these forfeit matches, Cklamovski's official record over his 10 matches in charge was affected. While his initial results stood at seven wins, one draw and two losses, the five forfeited matches due to using ineligible players changed his final managerial record to three wins and seven losses.

Following his departure, Cklamovski stated that it was time to seek a new challenge after leading Malaysia through a chaotic period.

"Malaysian football has incredible potential. The passion of the supporters, the talent of the players, and the love for the game in this country are things that must always be protected," Cklamovski said in a statement. "I hope that Malaysian football continues to grow, with decisions always guided by what is best for the game, the players, and the future of the nation."

FAM now faces a race against time to find a new coach, with the 2026 ASEAN Cup scheduled to begin on July 24. Due to the extremely tight timeframe, local media suggest that FAM will likely appoint an interim coach to lead the team in the upcoming regional tournament.

Coach Peter Cklamovski during a training session of the Malaysia national team at Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on June 9, 2025, one day before the match against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu